TOOSIS JEWELRY DESIGN

A remarkable structure located atop a mountain in Turkey is the Nemrut Dagi shrine. Flanked by enormous statues of Armenian and Greek gods, eagles, and lions, the centuries-old structure is a popular tourist attraction.

shopTurkey is also the home base of featured jewelry brand Toosis Jewelry Design.

Like New York-based designer Madelaine Mayer, Pinar Sondal, the owner of nine-year-old Toosis Jewelry Design, is also an architect; and like Mayer Sondal’s design approach is informed by the profession’s minimalist philosophy.

“As an architect I had an education based on designing in larger scales. I decided to take these processes to a smaller scale, and started designing jewelry,” says Sondal.

“For me architecture is about respecting and observing the past by creating new designs that represent your timeline for the future to come. Similarly, handmade jewelry echoes accessories from the past while blending with the modern ensembles of today.”

Her gorgeous handmade jewelry designs highlight stunning semi-precious gemstones within classic outlines of hammered sterling silver drenched in rich, 18-karat gold.

Sondal's fashion jewelry pairs classicism and daring in great pieces that are delicate and feminine.  There are gemstone pendants and gemstone earrings showcasing the beauty of raw amethyst; red quartz carved into the shape of a rose; and a bold clear quartz ring setting. There are oval cut, triple stone rings; three, vertically stacked jade gemstones suspended from gold chains; and multi-strand, long pearl necklaces.

The mother of two is not the only family member with a crafty side. Sondal’s sister Mine Ozkaynak, who is also an architect, joins Sondal in creating vibrant headpieces from fabric, ribbons, l
eather and crystals.

“I developed my brand name Toosis with my sister because we are two sisters, two architects, two hearts having too much fun designing. I opened an Etsy shop, Queenece, with Mine that lists our headpieces.

I think my designs have a character of their own. They are modern and unique, yet a little bit urban with a vintage style.

I design jewelry as a hobby but it is slowly finding its way into every moment of my spare time. I just might consider designing jewelry as a primary job.”



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Photo 1 (top right): 18-Karat Gold Plated Sterling Silver 
Long White Pearl Necklace
Photo 2 (center): 18-Karat Gold Plated Sterling Silver Vertical Jade Ring
Photo 3 (bottom left): 18-Karat Gold Plated Sterling Silver Amethyst Earrings